Shallow Dale and Ampleforth Country

9 miles                    Warm and fine

 

We drove to Ampleforth via the A19 and Thirsk Bank and parked in the village where there is plenty of roadside parking.

 

Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills

 

Tom Scott Burns says that Ampleforth is mentioned in the Domesday Book and means 'ford where the sorrel grows.'

We booted up and after calling at the village store for fresh Jakemans Lozenges (a hiking essential) we headed west along the High Street, eventually walking uphill out of town where we saw a new memorial bench placed where previously an old bench had been dedicated to 'The Old Timer.'

 

"Got any Jakemans?"

Houses on Ampleforth High Street

 

New bench

The old bench

... and its dedication

If anyone can help we would like to know more about Ron Tyreman but an internet search for the man and his song has proved negative.

We followed the road west out of the village and took the second turning on the right, into Westwood Lane.  Passing a working sawmill the road soon becomes a narrow lane which is very pretty and pleasant to walk along, as we enter Shallow Dale.  

This is a very quiet dale and there is little trace of the Quaker settlement that was once scattered along the valley, growing flax in terraces and spinning it into yarn. There are heaps of stone where their cottages once stood. 

 

Snake Villa

An old railway truck

A pleasant 1.5 miles along the lane

A long gentle climb brought us to the head of the valley where the path continues past High Woods Farm and then returns alongside Low Wood plantation before entering Burtis Wood.  We walked through the wood for some time, descending, sometimes steeply, back towards Carr Lane.

 

Royalty Slack sounds interesting but we head for High Woods Farm

Sign on the table

High Woods

Bullocks, too hot to bother us

High Woods Farm

Approaching the trees of Low Wood

Descending steeply through Low Wood

After leaving the wood at a stile we turned sharp left and walked through three fields, keeping parallel to the road below. In the last field were piglets, small enough to get through the fence that enclosed their mothers, and cattle with calves.

 

Crossing Burtis Beck

Masses of Himalayan Balsam

Cross three fields

Piglets!

The piglets could slip under the fence

Cows and calves.  We head down to join the road

 

We rejoined the road at the end of the third field. We were now leaving Shallow Dale and after crossing Carr Lane we began today's second circular walk, this time southwards of Ampleforth.

We followed a way-marked path to reach Newstead Barn and below it Newstead Pond, which TSB describes as delightful, but the drought and weed have taken their toll.  It was very silted and in need of management.

 

 

"Nowt in here but pigeons!"

Newstead Pond is delightful no more, overgrown and silted up

 

After the barn we crossed a couple of fields and in one we found a fallen tree to sit on. Here we enjoyed our coffee and scones with a nice view over Ampleforth Country.

 

Coffee and scones

After a pleasant break we set off once more crossing a couple of fields and joining a lane which took us past Old Pilfit Farm.  

Old Pilfit Farm

Just past the farm the lane has a cattle grid and as we crossed it we saw a hedgehog had fallen in.  The grid was about 18" deep and there was no ramp or bricks to aid an escape.  At first I thought the hog was dead and tapped it with my walking pole which brought an immediate response so Clive got out a pair of gloves and reached in to rescue it.  We gave it water which it drank and then took it away from the grid to a nearby wood where we released it.  It was definitely a lucky day for the hedgehog which appeared otherwise fit and well.  Unusually there was no sign of tick or flea on it.

 

Passing Old Pilfit Farm

Calves at Old Pilfit

Who's that down there?

Hedgehog rescue begins

It's a deep grid with no way out

Looks fit but thin

It has a good drink

This looks like a good spot

".... and away!"

We set off walking once more and our lane joined the Colley Broach road.  These little lanes and roads seem devoid of traffic and are very pleasant to walk along. 

We soon reached Low Lion Lodge farm where the lane bears left, but we leave the lane by keeping straight on past the farm buildings before entering fields to walk south to reach the rather grand High Lion Lodge.

 

We cross the bed of the old Ampleforth railway

Ampleforth

Low Lion Lodge

Continue through fields

Looking down on Low Lion Lodge with the White Horse top left

The path appears unwalked

High Lion Lodge

... and some of its residents

Passing by High Lion House and its alpacas we turned right into North Moor Lane where, after a couple of hundred yards on tarmac, we turned left onto a forestry road to cross Yearsley Moor.

 

Leaving the road to cross Yearsley Moor

Clive dons his sun hat (pat. pending)

Red Admiral, lots of butterflies in today's still, warm weather

 

Another Red Admiral, this one more orange than red

 

We followed this forestry road until we reached Higher Fish Ponds where we swung left to sweep past the pond and reach Lower Fish Pond.  This Lower Fish Pond is by far the larger and is a tranquil and pretty spot.

Approaching Higher Fish Pond

Heavy foliage hides the pond

A glimpse of Higher Fish Pond

We reach Lower Fish Pond

Picturesque Lower Fish Pond

Just past Lower Fish Pond the route turns north to cross a sheep field. Our path is now a straight 1.75 miles walk through fields leading back to Ampleforth.  

 

We crossed fields and then the old embankment of the long disused Malton to Coxwold railway enjoying fine views of Ampleforth Abbey and College over to our right.

Ampleforth Abbey

Wide paths back to Ampleforth

Eventually we left the field tracks to join Mill Lane which we followed back into the village.   

This is quite a pretty route along little walked paths and because of poor signage is best done with a close eye to the map or GPS. (GPS track available on request)

No pubs were open in Ampleforth on our return but a short drive took us to Coxwold where we discussed today's fine summer walk.

 

A straight path to Ampleforth

 

"To Lucky - keep off the grid!"